Apparatus for cleaning textiles



P 1950 s. o. STAGEBERG 2,522,806

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILES Filed May 26, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z-g I V .55

/4 10 I Z /5/ Z Sept. 19, 1950 s. o. STAGEBERG APPARATUS FOR cuzmmc TEXTILES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May. 26, 1945 Patented Sept. 19, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILES Application May 26, 1945, Serial No. 595,979

7 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for cleanins textiles and more particularly to laundering or cleaning apparatus for washing, rinsing or drying textile fabrics.

The cleaning of textiles is effected by a combination of the actions of detergent liquid through the pores or interstices of the fabrics, flexure of the fabrics and chemical action of the detergent thereon as controlled by the strength and temperature of the detergent liquid. These several actions must be limited so that they will not damage the fabrics, either by tearing or undue wear from violent agitation Or by chemical action of the detergent thereon. It is further apparent that the treatment necessary to clean fabrics of different kinds and the violence of the permissible cleaning action vary substantially with the type and soil condition of the fabrics. Another important factor is the complete removal by rinsing or the like of the detergent liquid from the fabrics before the fabrics are dried.

It is one of the objects of the present invention to provide an apparatus in which fabrics may be thoroughly cleaned by the combined actions of detergent flow and flexure of the textiles with minimum abrasion of or other damage to the fabrics.

Another object is to provide apparatus in which the violence of the action on the fabrics can easily be controlled to suit the conditions.

Another object is to provide apparatus in which fabrics are cleaned by flow of detergent liquid therethrough and by turning the fabrics by action of the detergent thereon to present a different aspect to the detergent.

Still another object is to provide apparatus in which the fabrics are subjected to squeezing during the cleaning operation. According to the invention, the squeezing is produced by impact effect on the fabrics.

Still another object is to provide apparatus in which detergent is forced through the fabrics by pumping action of the detergent and by air pressure.

A further object is to provide apparatus in which the fabrics are rinsed by forcing a rinsing liquid therethrough while agitating and turning the fabrics.

A still further object is to provide apparatus in which a continuous flow of fresh rinsing liquid is maintained through the fabrics during the rinsing operation.

The above and other objects and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sectional view of one form of apparatus embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a partial section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are partial diagrammatic views illustrating different steps in a washing operation;

Figures 6, '7 and 8 are similar views illustrating different steps in a rinsing operation;

Figures 9, l0 and 11 are similar views illustrating different steps in a drying operation; and

Figure 12 is a diagrammatic view of the control valve.

The machine, as shown in Figure 1, comprises a vertical cylindrical tub if! having a flat closed bottom l l and flared outwardly at its upper end at 12. Within the tub a container is provided having a flat bottom I3 forming a horizontal position in the tub and a cylindrical side wall IA of slightly smaller diameter than the tub side wall to form a relatively close fit thereagainst, leaving adequate clearance, however, for vertical movement of the container within the tub.

The bottom partition wall l3 of the container is formed with a series of perforations, as indicated in Figure 2. As shown, the perforations l5 adjacent the center of the partition wall are of relatively large diameter and the remaining partitions are graduated to a minimum diameter adjacent the periphery of the partition wall, as indicated at l6. The sizes of the openings are so fixed that fabrics to be washed will not pass through them but the central openings l5 are made of the maximum permissible diameter to provide for maximum flow of detergent liquid. Obviously the same result can be accomplished by making the perforations of the same diameter and spacing them more closely adjacent the center of the partition or by varying both the spacing and size of the openings, as shown.

The container and tub are sealingly connected to prevent any passage of fluid therebetween by an annular flexible sealing strip ll formed of rubber or the like. The strip ll is connected at its inner edge to the top of the container walls and at its outer edge to the top of the flared tub wall l2. The flared wall l2 provides space for flexure of the sealing strip during movementof the container so that a tight seal is maintained between the tub and container at all vertical positions of the container.

The container is adapted to be moved vertiq 3 cally in the tub by a fluid motor unit comprising a cylinder fixedly mounted below the tub and having a piston I9 slidable therein. A piston rod 2| connected to the piston l9 extends through a seal 22 in the bottom of the tub and is connected to the container bottom wall l3 so that as the piston reciprocates, the container will be reciprocated vertically in the tub. Fluid is sui plied to the cylinder [8 through a supply conduit 23 connected to a pump or other source of fluid under pressure and is returned to the pump inlet or to a sump from which the pump is supplied through an exhaust conduit 24. The con duits 23 and 24 are connected to a four-way reversing valve 25 which is connected through a pipe 26 to the top of the cylinder l8 and through a pipe 21 to the bottom of the cylinder. The Valve is operated to reverse the direction of the piston by an operating arm 28 connected't'o "arod 29 which has spaced abutments 3| thereon. The s fabutments 3| areadapted to befengagedto turn the reversing valve by an arm 32 secured to the piston rod. In this way, as is well understood in the "art, reversal of the fluid motor will be produced so that it 'will reciprocate the container and the'passages 25b and 250 are spaced an "amounte'qual to the angular movement of the operating arm 28. The rotor is also formed with an additional set of interconnected passages 25 125g, 25hfand 251'. Passages 251 and 252' are dia- 'fmetri'callyopposite; passages 25g and 25h lie at i'aright angle to each other; and passages 251' and 25h are spaced by an angle equal to the angle of movement of the operating arm 28.

' Th'ejvalve is shown in the position it occupies "when the arm 23 is raised as in Figure l. In this position passage 250 communicates with pipe ,23; passage25e communicates with pipe 25; passage 252" communicates withpi-pe 24; and" passage 25 communicates with pipe 21. Thus the inlet f'p'i'pe 23 i connected'to the upper end of the I 'cy1i'nder'and the outlet pipe24 is connected to jt'he lower end of the cylinder. When the valve is turned by swinging the arm'28 down to the fidotted position of Figure 1, passage 25b will com- "municate with pipe 23. and passage 2501 will communicate with'pipe 2'1 to connect the inlet'pipe "23 to the lowerend' of the cylinder. At this time passage25'hwi1l c'ommunicate'with pipe 24 and passage '25gjwill'communicate with pipe 26 to "connect theupper end of the cylinder to the discharge pipe '24.

According to one of the important features of the invention, vertical movement or the container can be varied to Vary the violence of the detergent action on fabrics in the container. I In the case of coarse, heavy fabrics a relatively high pressure and upward rate of speed of the container can be used to force the. detergent down through the fabrics and through the openings 'inftl'ie partition l3 without damage to the fabricswhilefwhen more delicate fabrics are being "treated "a less violentactio'n c'an be employed'to prevent damage thereto. ,As "shown, upward speed'of movement of the container can be controlled by an adjustable throttlingvalve 33 in the pipe 21 which can be set to control the rate 4 at which actuating fluid flows into the bottom of the cylinder so that the upward rate of movement of the container is limited. As a substitute for or in addition to the throttling valve, an adjustable spring load relief valve 34 is connected to the pipe 2'! to limit the pressure which I can be builtup in the bottom of the cylinder so that the maximum upward force which can be applied to the container is limited. By the use of one or both of the valves 33 and 34, the upward movement of the container is controlled to prevent damage to the fabrics being washed.

Detergent liquid, such as water, is supplied to the tub through a valve pipe 35 which preferably terminates in a spray nozzle 36 above the open top of the container to discharge directly on top of fabrics in the container. While the supply nozzle can be located at any desired position in the'tub, it is preferred to have it so arranged as to discharge directly onto the fabrics to facilitate rinsing. The detergent'an'd rinsin'g liquids may be discharged from the tub through a Valve drain conduit at 31 "Which is provided with an outwardly opening spring load check valve 38 and a'shutofi valve 39. For certain of the cleaning operations, as described hereinafter, it is desired that some back pressure be maintained in the drain pipe and the spring of the check valve 38 rnay b'e designed or adjusted to produce the desired pressure. I

The top of the tub is adapted to be closed by a cover 4! fitting sealingly against the tub'upper edge and adapted to bese cured tightly to the tub by any desired type of clamping means, 'not shown. The cover is provided'with an inwardly opening check valve 42 illustrated as a flapper type valve to permit air to b e puz'nped into the tub during certain phases of the operation and to prevent the air from being'pumped back out through the top of the tub. ,7

According to'one feature of the inventioir'the cover 4! may carry heating and sterilizing means to'fa'cilitate drying of th e'fabrics and topermit the fabrics to be dried toa state of complete dryness in a relatively short time. As shown, the heating means may comprise a radiant heater 43 secured to'the underside of the cover'to radiate heat onto the fabrics in the container. Teaserilizing means may coniprise'a sterilizing lamp 44 mounted "adjacent th I heating means to subject thefabrics durin'g'the dryingfoperationto sterilizirigrays so that when finally dried, they will be cleanand sterile and will havea desirable odor.

Both the radiantheater arid the sterilizinglamp may conveniently be r'r'iad'e'in annular form" and ma be controlled b switches, or the like,

mounted on the cover or "in some -otherconvenient locatio'n.

Washing operation tion. Soap or other desired detergent 'n'iay'be added to the'water' in the necessary quantityand f the waterxmayalso contain such other materials as softening agents, 'bl'ea'ch'es, blues andthelike,

as desired. When the desiredamou nt of water and detergent materials are in the tub, the cover may be secured'thereon and the pumporother actuating fluid supplying source may beaconnected through the conduit 23 to the reversing valve 25. At this time, the container willbe reciprocated vertically in the tub by the motor.

Figure 3 illustrates the condition of the apparatus during an upward stroke of the container with the fabrics or other materials to be washed shown at 45. During this operation, the fabrics will be supported in a relatively flat condition on the bottom l3 of the container and detergent will flow therethrough from the upper side to the lower side of the container bottom. This flow is produced by the effect of the partial vacuum below the container caused by expansion of the space between the container bottom and the tub bottom. In addition, air entering through the check valve d2 during a downward stroke of the container will be trapped above the container bottom and will assist in forcing the detergent through the fabric. It will be noted that during this movement the fabric tends to close the perforations in the container bottom to produce a valving effect so that the detergent is forced to flow under pressure through the fabrics. This pressure can be controlled, as desired, through the valves 33 and 34 to prevent its building up to a point where it will damage the fabrics by pressing them with too great a pressure into the openings in the partition so that the fabrics will not be damaged. As noted above, this pressure may be varied by adjustment of the valves depending upon the type of fabric being washed so that relatively light, flimsy fabrics can be treated gently while coarser, heavier fabrics can be given a more violent treatment.

During the downward stroke of the container, as shown in Figure 4, liquid in the tub below the container bottom is forced through the openings in the container bottom by a pumping action to raise the fabrics and turn them. Due to the fact that the size of the openings is graduated, the liquid jets adjacent the center of the container bottom will be more violent than those at its periphery so that the fabrics will be elevated to a greater extent in the center and will beturned to present a different aspect to the detergent flow on the next upstroke. This action simultaneously flexes the fabrics while they are saturated with detergent to assist in the cleaning thereof and turns the fabrics so that they lie in a different position on each stroke of the container.

At the bottom of the downstroke as shown in Figure 5, the container stops rather abruptly to start its succeeding upstroke so that the fabrics will fall quickly to the bottom thereof and will be subjected to an impact effect. This impact tends to squeeze and flex the fabrics further to assist in the washing thereof and to cause a certain amount of flow of detergent liquid through the fabrics. The washing operation, as described, may be continued for any desired interval of time during which the fabrics will be thoroughly washed in the manner described above.

Upon completion of the washing operation the shutoff valve 39 in the drain pipe may be opened to drain the soiled detergent liquid from the tub. Draining of the liquid will be facilitated by continuing to reciprocate the container so that a pumping action is produced tending to pump the detergent from the tub. During a downstroke of the container, pressure will be built up below it in the tub to force the detergent liquid out the drain pipe and at the same time the check valve 42 in the cover will open to admit air to the tub. During a succeeding Uri-- stroke this air trapped above the container will assist in forcing the detergent liquid from the fabrics so that a substantially complete removal of the detergent is effected.

Thereafter, the inlet pipe 35 may again be opened to supply a rinsing liquid such as water to the fabrics to rinse the remaining detergent therefrom. This operation is illustrated in Figures 6, 7 and 8. As shown in Figure 6 with the container rising, detergent sprayed on the fabrics will be forced therethrough and through the openings in the perforated bottom of the container to rinse thefabrics. During a. downstroke, as indicated in Figure 7, a certain amount of the rinsing liq-uid and some air in the tub below the container will be forced upwardly through the openings to turn the fabrics and to agitate them in much the same manner as dur ing the upstroke in-the washing operation. At the bottom of the downstroke, the fabrics will strike the bottom of the container under substantial impact to squeeze the fabrics to assist in removal of the detergent and rinsing liquids therefrom.

When the fabrics are adequately rinsed the inlet pipe may be closed and the container may continue to reciprocate to pump the remaining rinsing liquid therefrom.

Continuing reciprocation of the container a f ter the rinsing liquid has been shut off will effect drying of the fabrics as indicated in Figures 9 to 11. During upstroke of the container under these conditions, the check valve 42 will close so that air trapped above the container will flow through the fabrics and through the openings in the container bottom to carry any remaining liquid from the fabrics and to dry the fabrics by evaporation. During a downstroke, as indicated in Figure 10, air below the container will be forced up through the openings in the container bottom under a pressure determined by the setting of the check valve 38 to raise the fabrics and turn them. At the same time, some air will be drawn in through the check valve 42 to replace the air which is forced out past the check valve 38. At the bottom of the downstroke, the fabrics will strike the bottom, of the container with substantial impact to squeeze the fabrics, thereby to assist in removal of any remaining liquid therefrom, By continuing this operation, air will be continuously pumped through the fabrics which are at the same time agitated and turned by action of the air thereon so that the fabrics can be dried to any desired extent.

Drying of the fabrics is substantially facilitated by use of the radiant heater 43 and the sterilizing lamp 44 which may be turned on during the drying operation. Addition of radiant heat by the heater speeds the evaporation of liquid from the fabrics so that they can be brought to a state of substantially complete dryness, if desired, in a relatively short time. The sterilizing lamp, in addition to assisting evaporation to some extent, sterilizes the fabrics and leaves them with a clean, fresh odor when they are removed from the container.

By the use of the apparatus of the present invention, it Will be seen that there is never any necessity for handling the fabrics except in a dry condition and that the fabrics can be effectively washed, thoroughly rinsed and dried to any desired degree of dryness in the same container.

While one embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in detail, it will be understood that this is illustrative :only and is notintended as --a definition of the I scope I of the invention, reference being-had for .this pu pqse to the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for: cleaning textiles comprising: a 'tub adapted to contain aliquid detergentsagenerally horizontal partition movable verticallyain the tub,means to seal the' partition atits periphery -to the tub, the partition having a series-of openingstherethrough which are larger adjacent its center th-an adjacent its periphery, -means toreciprocate thepar-titionvertically in the tub and adjustable means'to control the rate of 11-D- War'd movement of thepartition.

2. 'Ap'paratus forcleaning textiles comprising a substantially-vertical tub, means to supply deterg'ent-liquid'to the tub, a -drain connection from v the lower part of thetub an outwardly opening check-valve in the drain connection, a generally horizontal partition movable vertically in the tub, means to seal the'perip-hery of the partition to the tub, the partition being formed with a series of openingstherethrough, and means'to reciprocate the partition vertically in the tub and adju'stable -means to control the rate of upward movement of the partition-without affecting the rate of downward movement.

3. Apparatus for cleaning textiles comprising a substantially vertical tub, a generally horizontal partition in the tub, an annular flexible sealing ring connected at one edge to the partition and at its other edge to the tub, the partition havinga series of openings therein, and means to'reciprocate the partition vertically in the tub.

4. Apparatus for cleaning textiles comprising 'a s'u'bstantially vertical tub, a generally horizontal partition in the tub,'an annular flexible-sealing ring connected at one edge'of the partition and at its other edge to the tub, the partition having a series 'of openings therein, meansto reciprocate the partition vertically in the tub, and-means variably to control the last named means to'vary rate of upward movement of" the partition inthe tub.

5. Apparatus for cleaning textiles comprising a substantially vertical tub, a container for ".te'xtiles in the tub having an upstandingside wall,

an annular flexible seal connecting the top of the tub and the top of the container, the bottom of thecontainerbeing perforated, and means for reciprocating the container vertically in the tub.

6. Apparatus for cleaning textiles comprising a substantially vertical tub, a container for textiles in the tub having an upstanding side wall, an annular flexible seal connecting the top of the tub and the top of the container the bottom of the container being perforated, means for reciprocating the container vertically in the tub, and means variably to control the last named means to vary rate of upward movement of the container in the tub.

7. Apparatus for cleaning textiles comprising a substantially vertical tub, a generally horizontal perforated partition movable vertically in the tub,

meansto sealthe peripheryof thepartition to the tub, a cylinder adjacent the tub, a piston in the cylinder connected to the partition to reciprocate it vertically in the tulb, supply and exhaust conduits for the cylindena reversing valve connected to the conduits to reverse the movement of the piston, and control means in one of the conduits to control rate of movement of the piston in a direction toraise the partition.

STERLING O. STAGEBERG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,516,985 Pillar Nov. 25, 1924 1,531,815 Robe Mar. 31, 1925 1,531,922 Graham Mar. 31, 1925 1,631,630 Gensley June 7, 1927 1,737,480 Troy Nov. 26, 1929 1,777,008 Malloy Sept. .30, 1980 1,886,578 Pedrazzo Nov. 8, 1932 2,044,629 Parker June 16,1936 2,050,484 Burry Aug. 11, 1936 2,287,288 Bonsiakos June 23, 1942. 2,293,618 Nelligan Aug. 18,1942 2,300,214 Fleming Oct. 27, 1942 

